The Betrayal

The Betrayal is a 1948 race film written, produced, and directed by Oscar Micheaux. He adapted it from his 1943 novel The Wind From Nowhere. Plot Martin Eden is a successful African-American farmer in South Dakota. He is in love with Deborah Stewart, but he believes that she is white and that she would not be interested in him. He is unaware that Deborah also loves him. Martin goes to Chicago to seek out a wife. After an unsuccessful date with a cabaret singer, he reconnects with an ex-girlfriend who introduces him to Linda. They fall in love and marry, and then return to Martin’s farm. The couple become parents, but their happiness is short-lived when Linda’s pathologically jealous father convinces her that Martin is homicidal. She flees the farm with their child and returns to Chicago. Martin tracks her down in the city, but Martin is shot by Linda during a fight. In South Dakota, Deborah discovers she is African-American. She travels to Chicago and meets Linda, who agrees to divorce Martin so he can marry Deborah. Linda also gives her child to Deborah to raise. Martin and Deborah return to South Dakota and Linda kills her father in revenge for his role in destroying her marriage. Cast William Byrd as Jack Stewart Leroy Collins as Martin Eden Verlie Cowan as Linda Frances De Young as Mrs. Bowles Vernon B. Duncan as Duval Edward Fraction as Nelson Boudreaux Harris Gaines as Dr. Lee Jessie Johnson as Preble Barbara Lee as Jessie Yvonne Machen as Terry Arthur McCoo as Joe Bowles Vernetties Moore as Eunice Alice B. Russell as Aunt Mary Myra Stanton as Deborah Lou Vernon as Ned Washington